Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-27
Trains Cannot Pass the Washouts at Vas
salboro,
And a Thronx Of Travellers Remain In
the City.

and Brunswick was obtained for the purpose,
the men working like beavers Monday night
and yesterday to repair the damage. Further
on towards Waterville there was
another washout at Drummoni's
brook some twenty feet
long and ten deep. ALI this difficulty resulted
from the heavy rains of the last few days. of
course. The great rain of Sunday softened
the earth so that it was like a mud bank, and
Monday afternoon the clouds emptied them
selves upon district extending from Vassal-
boro to Waterville in a way which was SIM
ply terrific. People who resided where the
cloud struck called it "cloud-burst." The
water came down 10 foods and off the hills
into the gullies, until, increasing into small
rivers, tore away the railroad entertainments.
At one place the head of q culvert damned
up the water, obtained egress beneath the
rails, and in short order hole was cut
through.
At Osborne's farm the down Yankee passed
over all right and party of railroad hands
suspecting there might be some trouble went
up the track at once and found the road bed
all washed out, and stopped the local train.
Three trains were stalled here early yester-
day morning. The local passenger train east
could get no further than Vassaboro Mon
day afternoon and returned to Augusta during
the night. The evening train stopped here
and the morning Pullman. which car
red $50 passengers Something like
three hundred persons were added to the
population of the city and the hotels were
packed, At Hotel Nroth there were one
hundred and twenty-five extra guests and at
the Cony house as many more. Every
means were taken TO make the condition of
the passengers as comfortable as possible and
the Maine Central railroad with commend
able promptness and liberality paid the bills
passenger had to do was to show his railroad
ticket to the proprietor or clerk and he was
fed and housed. Many of the people had
never been in the city before and they took
here to see the town. Nearly all the Pull
man train passengers stad by their cars and
amused themselves the best they could. Many
slept in their seats, read and talked. Others
! played whist
| The six o'clock train went out on time
Jewett's forenoon train went as far as Vassal
boro, turned about and came to this city. re-
naming here until afternoon when it went to
| Portland laavinu Auuusta he usuoI hour
! The local passenger which stopped here over
Monday night was made up and went
! west at 10. So on the running time of the fore.
noon express.
| During the afternoon the passengers had
rather a dubious time of it. The weather
was hot and muggy and the tired passengers
killed time the best they could. The baby
was one of the passengers hardest to please
and the mothers became much wearied ere
nightfall. The constant inquiry was
When does the train go? Station Agent
Walker was almost constantly Intercepted
as also the conductors and other train en-
ployes. They did all in their power for the
passengers and answered all inquiries as far
| AS tney were aDie mere was mucn
grumbling, as there always is ia
such cases, but all realized that the railroad
company was doing their utmost to fill up the
big gaps at Vassalboro. The small boy did
a thriving business peddling lemonade and
fruit, which were freely purchasd. The en-
tire afternoon there was a crowd of people on
the station platform.
At 4 P. M. the afternoon passenger train
from Portland arrived, the local and express
being combined. There were but ten through
passengers aboard. The train went to Vas
salboro.
The building of the washouts was CON-
pleted at s. 80 p. NJ. and at so the Pullman
train departed from the station much to the
relief of the passengers. The other trains
also passed along including last nights Pull.
mans.